Playing with eyes closed

[outburst]

I've been practicing sight-reading a lot lately. In order to get used to playing without looking at my hands I've been practicing almost everything with my eyes closed (scales, arpeggios, even new pieces).

I guess this has helped me improve and playing with my eyes closed can be pretty confusing at the beginning but I have to be much more focused which is a good thing.
For most part I can't play and be absent-minded (even when doing exercises).

So my question is : how important is playing with your eyes closed? Does it help in more areas than sight-reading? And should one do it all the time?

[mike1515]

Well... I always play Bach with my eyes closed for 2 weeks before and audition or a concert, and it certainly helps (if you can play it perfectly with your eyes closed, you'll surely be able to play it eyes open).

Wait until you can play the piece fluently, then start playing it with your eyes closed.

I don't really know if one should play all the time with his/her eyes closed, but I don't think it will help a lot. If you get used to playing pieces with your eyes closed, then you'll feel weird when you play it with you eyes open.

It improves A LOT your muscle memory.

Michael

[orangesodaking]

Read Gainsford once said 25% of your practicing should be with your eyes closed.

Frederick Chiu said 95% of your practicing should be with your eyes closed. (Lol.)

It's a great thing to do once you have a piece under your fingers well. I do it all the time. 

[quantum]

I like practicing in darkness with my eyes open.  It's a different sensation than eyes closed.  A little bit of moonlight will allow you to see just a few keys, the rest you have to navigate with tactile knowledge of the keyboard.